Hypertension

Alternative names

Definition

Systolic blood pressure is consistently over 140 (systolic is the "top" number of your blood pressure measurement, which represents the pressure generated when the heart beats)

Diastolic blood pressure is consistently over 90 (diastolic is the "bottom" number of your blood pressure measurement, which represents the pressure in the vessels when the heart is at rest)

Either or both of these numbers may be too high.

Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are likely to develop high blood pressure at some point. Therefore, your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to normal range.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped by the heart, and the size and condition of the arteries. Many other factors can affect blood pressure, including volume of water in the body; salt content of the body; condition of the kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels; and levels of various hormones in the body.

Essential hypertension has no identifiable cause. It may be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or even diet, such as how much salt you use. It is the cause of hypertension in 95% of cases.

"Secondary" hypertension is an unusual cause of high blood pressure caused by another disorder. This may include:

Adrenal gland tumours

Cushing's syndrome

kidney disorders

glomerulonephritis (inflammation of kidneys)

renal vascular obstruction or narrowing

renal failure

use of medications, drugs, or other chemicals

oral contraceptives

hemolytic-uremic syndrome

Henoch-Schonlein purpura

periarteritis nodosa

radiation enteritis

retroperitoneal fibrosis

Wilms' tumor

Symptoms

Usually, no symptoms are present. Occasionally, you may experience a mild headache. If your headache is severe, or if you experience any of the symptoms below, you must be seen by a doctor right away. These may be a sign of dangerously high blood pressure (called malignant hypertension) or a complication from high blood pressure.

tiredness

confusion

vision changes

angina-like chest pain (crushing chest pain)

heart failure

blood in urine

nosebleed

irregular heartbeat

ear noise or buzzing

Signs and tests

Hypertension may be suspected when the blood pressure is high at any single measurement. It is confirmed through blood pressure measurements that are repeated over time. Blood pressure consistently elevated over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic is called hypertension. Your doctor will look for signs of complications to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs in your body.

Systolic blood pressure consistently between 120 and 139 or diastolic blood pressure consistently between 80 and 89 is called pre-hypertension. Your doctor will recommend and encourage lifestyle changes including weight loss, exercise, and nutritional changes.

Tests for suspected causes and complications may be performed. These are guided by the symptoms presented, history, and results of examination.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure to a level where there is decreased risk of complications. Treatment may occur at home with close supervision by the doctor, or may occur in the hospital.

Expectations (prognosis)

Hypertension is controllable with treatment. It requires lifelong monitoring, and the treatment may require adjustments periodically.

Complications

hypertensive heart disease

heart attacks

congestive heart failure

blood vessel damage (arteriosclerosis)

aortic dissection

kidney damage

kidney failure

stroke

brain damage

loss of vision

Contact your GP if you are concerned or if you have the above symptoms

Even if you have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to have your blood pressure checked at annual exams, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure in your family.

If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.

In between appointments, if you have any of the symptoms listed below or your blood pressure remains high even with treatment (this assumes the use of a home blood pressure monitor), then call your doctor right away.

Severe headache

Excessive tiredness

Confusion

Visual changes

Nausea and vomiting

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Significant sweating

Prevention

Lifestyle changes may help control high blood pressure:

Lose weight if you are overweight. Excess weight adds to strain on the heart. In some cases, weight loss may be the only treatment needed.

References

Wang Y, Wang QJ. The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among US adults according to the new joint national committee guidelines: new challenges of the old problem. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164(19):2126-34.

Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). Rockville, Md. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, US Department of Health and Human Services; August 2004. National Institutes of Health Publication No. 04-5230.

Eyre H, Kahn R, Robertson RM, et al. Preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes: A common agenda for the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association.Circulation 2004;109(25):3244-55.